Home protection system employing barking dog tape

ABSTRACT

A protection system arranged to provide the periodic and activity stimulated sound of a barking dog. A timer is provided to initiate periodic operation of a recorded dog bark that tends to discourage prowlers from entering a building where a barking dog may be maintained. In addition, one or more remote stations can also be provided to initiate playing of the recorded bark upon the occurrence of specified activity at the station or stations. Such stations typically include a control button positioned near a persons bed, a doorbell, and/or a pressure actuated plate embedded in a doorstep or yard.

United States Patent [1 1 Carleson June 19, 1973 HOME PROTECTION SYSTEM EMPLOYING BARKING DOG TAPE 22 Filed: Nov.26, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 202,365

[52] US. Cl. 340/221 R, IMO/309.1 R, 340/309.4 R

[5]] Int. Cl. G081) 19/00 [58] Field of Search 340/221 R, 309.! R,

{56] References Cited OTHER PUBLICATIONS Matthews, Tape Recorded Bark Guards House, August 1963, Popular Science, Vol. 18, No. 2.

Primary ExaminerHarold I. Pitts Attom eyB. Deon Criddle [57] ABSTRACT A protection system arranged to provide the periodic and activity stimulated sound of a barking dog. A timer is provided to initiate periodic operation of a recorded dog bark that tends to discourage prowlers from entering a building where a barking dog may be maintained. In addition, one or more remote stations can also be provided to initiate playing of the recorded bark upon the occurrence of specified activity at the station or stations. Such stations typically include a control button positioned near a persons bed, a doorbell, and/or a pressure actuated plate embedded in a doorstep or yard.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to home protection systems utilizing a recorded message played automatically or on command to discourage entrance of unwanted persons.

2. Prior Art With incidences of crime increasing rapidly, it has become more and more important for a home owner or small businessman to provide protective measures in his home or building that will discourage thieves. Watchdogs provide a possible solution, but involve continuing expense and require care and cleanup. The present invention presents an alternative to owning a watchdog by providing barking sounds, generated periodically and on command, to cause a prowler to believe there is a watchdog present. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,342,555 and 2,561,602 disclose recording devices which are time controlled, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,561,602 includes rewind capabilities that will provide continuous play. However, no device to my knowledge employs a conmand signal to a radio receiver that is arranged to operate the tape recorder.

An alternative or additional manual control arrangement involves electrically linking the tape recorder to a doorbell such that actuation of the doorbell also actuates the tape recorder, generating the sounds of a barking dog for a programmed period of time and/or electrically connecting the recorder to be operated upon actuation of a pressure activated switch.

tinuous play type tape recorder, with a dog bark record, which is played on either a regular or an irregular periodic time schedule for a desired time period. The

tape recorder arrangement can be activated to play from a remote station, such as a button beside an occupants bed, a doorbell, or. a pressure actuated remote switch. The remote station activation capability of the present invention provides an added measure of realism to the system by allowing an occupant or the ring ing of a doorbell to command operation of the system in response to noises or activitieswhich would cause a watchdog to bark.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION owner operated manually from a remote station.

Still another object is to provide such a system that is activated upon the occurrence of a predetermined activity.

Principal features of the present invention include a 1 recorder, preferably of the magnetic-tape, cassette type, arranged to provide an endless play of a magnetic tapecassette on which'is recorded the sound of a barking and growling dog. The tape recorder is combined with a timer arrangement whereby the recorded barking is programmed to be played periodically, on either a regular or on irregular basis, during the times of the day or night when an occupant believes that the danger from prowlers exists. I

An owner operated manual control arrangement is also coupled with the tape recorder to provide a remote activation capability. The manual control includes a manual control button positioned near an occupants bed, for example, which is energized to cause the tape recorder to play, if the owner believes that he hears noises indicating the presence of an intruder. The man ual control button can be linked to the tape recorder by an extension cord. or can involve a short range radio transmitter arrangement that sends a wireless com- THE DRAWINGS The sole FIGURE shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement of components of the protection system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

The protection system shown generally at 10, in the FIGURE, consists of a cassette tape recorder 11 which is of a type that records on, plays and automatically rewinds a magnetic tape, within a cassette 12, shown inserted in the recorder. The sound of a barking dog is recorded on the tape such that when recorder 11 is op erated, persons outside the building wherein the recorder is located are led to believe, from the barking sounds emanating therefrom, that there is a watchdog on the premises. I

A timer 13, which can be set to provideeither regular or irregular periodic operations, is arranged to provide such periodic operation of the tape recorder 11 during periods when it is determined that prowlers rnight be present in the area. Timer 13 is shown electrically linked to tape recorder 11 by electrical lines 14, although it should be apparent that the timer 13 could as well be made an integral part of tape recorder 11. Other lines 15 lead from tape recorder l l and have the usual plug 16 fixed to its end opposite to tape recorder 11 for connection into the usual electrical receptacle so as to provide the necessary electrical power for operation of the recorder and timer. I

Remote activation of the'tape recorder 11 is provided by operation of a button switch 17 preferably positioned near a users bed 18. When depressed, button 17 operates through cable I!) to start tape recorder 11. A limited range radio control arrangement (not shown) could as well be used in place of button 17 and line 19 such that the user could carry on his person a remote activation means even as he moved about the building. The remote activation means operates the tape recorder 11 to produce the sound of a barking dog in response to noises and activities heard by the user that would normally'cause a dog to bark, i.e., such as a strange person walking close to the building wherein the home protection system is located.

The tape recorder 11 of the home protection system 10 is also shown in FIG. I as being connected through electrical lines 20 and 21, respectively, to a doorbell 22 and a pressure actuated switch 23 set beneath a doorstep 24 of the home. Operation of the doorbell 22 also initiates the operation of tape recorder 11 to produce the recorded dog barking. I

It should be understood that conventional timing mechanism (not shown) is included within tape recorder 11 to lock in a set time period of tape recorder operation in response to the periodic or activity responsive button 17 or doorbell 22. Alternatively, the timer within the tape recorder can be arranged to actuate the tape recorder to play the magnetic tape for irregular time periods. I

It should be understood that additional remote station activation devices, such as an electric eye arrangement could be employed within the system without departing from the scope of the invention.

Although a preferred form of my invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

circuit at said remote station causes said tape recorder to play the tape of said cassette.

2. A home protection system as in claim 1, wherein the remote station consists of a switch mounted proximate to a users bed that is electrically connected through a cable to the taperecorder.

3. A home protection system as recited in claim 1,

further including an electrical connection between a doorbell of a building in which the tape recorder is installed and the tape recorder, whereby a signal is sent through said electrical junction arrangement to said tape recorder that commands the playing of said tape recorder.

4. A home protection system as in claim 1, further including a timer incorporated with the tape recorder, whereby a signal generated by the remote station continues for a definite period of time, the playing of said tape recorder.

5. A home protection system as in claim 1, wherein the timer means operates the recorder to play the tape on-an irregular basis. 

1. A home protection system comprising a cassette type tape recorder of the type that records on, plays and rewinds a tape of a cassette inserted therein and on which tape are recorded the sounds of a barking and growling dog; a means for supplying electrical power to the said tape recorder; timer means connected to said tape recorder for periodically operating said tape recorder; and an activity responsive remote station electrically connected to said tape recorder whereby closing of a circuit at said remote station causes said tape recorder to play the tape of said cassette.
 2. A home protection system as in claim 1, wherein the remote station consists of a switch mounted proximate to a user''s bed that is electrically connected through a cable to the tape recorder.
 3. A home protection system as recited in claim 1, further including an electrical connection between a doorbell of a building in which the tape recorder is installed and the tape recorder, whereby a signal is sent through said electrical junction arrangement to said tape recorder that commands the playing of said tape recorder.
 4. A home protection system as in claim 1, further including a timer incorporated with the tape recorder, whereby a signal generated by the remote station continues for a definite period of time, the playing of said tape recorder.
 5. A home protection system as in claim 1, wherein the timer means operates the recorder to play the tape on an irregular basis. 